Interaction with typical children

So far DS has only interacted with typical children. Except for his integration class once a week that we started a few months ago and only 1 little boy (he actually started only 2 weeks ago) is similar to DS, all the others are way more advanced even the special need one in his class.

Sometimes I wonder how much longer I will be able to go to GTGs with his typical friends.

I would love to think he will interact with typical children all his life. Not that I am in denial but that's how I want him to be with. So he can learn. Yet, I wonder how much longer before other kids "notice" DS is different and have no interest in him.

He is such a sweet little boy. Not mean spirited at all.

Do you wonder if you child would be better suited to stay with other children of special needs?

Re: Interaction with typical children

I'm going to answer as a mother who currently has "typical" children.

I would hope that no one would ever make EJ feel as if he didn't belong or that he was so different that he couldn't play with children his own age. I hope that I can raise children that are accepting of everyone, regardless of any physical or developmental differences. I really believe that children LEARN not to be accepting as oppose to being that way and needing to learn to accept. So, I don't think that there should be any segregation.

I know this really wasn't what you were asking but I hope that I may have answered a small part of your question.

Re: Interaction with typical children

DS has been with typical children since he was 4 months old... DS is 2.5 years old....

i would never remove AJ from his typical friends, bc that is how he learns... yes he is different and does he know it, not yet but he will, and i am not concerned bc i know in the long run it will only benefit him and the typical children in learning to play with children that arent like them... KWIM?

DS goes to a special pre-school 3 days a week and we try at least once a week if not more to get him to play with his other friends.

we take his ABA therapists along to playdates with his typical friends, we have playdates at the house with his typical friends.

it's a great learning experience for all the children.

how long have you known these other children? it's weird but there was a point in AJs life where his friends knew he was different but with all the therapy he is getting each day he shows more and more signs of being typical, even with his quirks.



from personal experience i would keep him with his typical friends more than his friends that are like him.

we all want what is best for our children, and the decision is entirely up to you.

FM me if you ever want to talk

Re: Interaction with typical children

I know for me I would rather see him with typical children. DS has been in daycare since 3 months with typical children and I do feel that he learns a lot from them. However, I will say that have his therapist shadow him for an hour per day has really been key. So on top of him learning by imitation she is also helping him socialize, interact, share space and integrate.

Right now it actually makes Matthew the most popular kid in school because the kids are too young to realize and they love his therapist too (and think she is his mommy which kind of makes me sad). I do worry about a few years from now how he will be treated in the event he does not "mainstream" by then. I sobbed about it last night as a matter of fact.

To be honest, I would love for him to also play with children like him because it would actually be helpful for me to meet other parents goings through this. But I would not replace those playdates with those of typical children.

Re: Interaction with typical children

Christopher is with a typical child everyday. He has his twin brother Matthew whi is AMAZING with him. I dont know if he knows that there is something wrong. Matthew knows that is his brother and very protective. They do fight like brothers, but Christopher models many of the good things that Matthew does as a typical child does, which is why I would keep AJ with typical kids as much as possible. Matthew helps him out with many things, and I couldnt ask for a better role model. Dont get me wrong, Matthew is not an angel all the time, but Christopher started doing things he has never done before because of Matthew.
For example, Christopher took my slippers and put them on and started to shuffle around the house with them on, and yesterday, he tried to get on our dog (God Bless Tiger) and ride him like a horse, which Matthew does all the time, which is what any typical child would do.

Re: Interaction with typical children

This is tough, my step-son is 13.5 and in the past 4 or 5 years he has really been gravitating towards the youngest kids in any group (SS has ADHD and is PDD-NOS). Our neighbors have a 2 year old and SS will stand at the window looking for him so he can go out and play. We do try to limit how much he plays with little kids because we feel he needs interaction with his peers, but typical kids his age tend to not want to play with him because to them he doesn't make sense.

We try very hard to keep him involved with kids his age, in sports and boy scouts but often times SS ends up being pushed to the side. A lot of times it isn't because the kids are being mean, just that they don't understand each other. SS is not as mature as a typical 13 y/o and the other kids don't quite understand if there is something 'wrong' with him or if he is just 'wierd'. He is really just starting to recognize it and is starting to have emotional breakdowns because of it.

We are going to start bringing him to a psychiatrist on the advice of his developmental PED. This year has been really tough for all of us, the gap between SS and typical kids seems to really be widening.